Farm practice

Figure 2. Ease of administration of a topical parasiticide

Parasiticides: perspectives and prospects

The introduction of relatively more efficacious and safe parasite treatments can conveniently be traced from the early 1960s, though many of the older treatments were still in use at this time. A book...

Figure 2. The process of applying for, completing and claiming the funding for the pathway visit.

The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway for England: an update

These are different for the different species involved. For cattle we have settled on bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). For sheep there will be anthelmintic resistance testing and for pigs there will be...

Figure 1. Elements of virtual fence systems with data communication routes.

Virtual fencing systems: balancing production and welfare outcomes

Figure 1 highlights the main generic components of VF. This article will aim to cover these capabilities as a family, though will necessarily mention individual products. In summary, all animals in...

Figure 1. Bracken fern, one of the world's most abundant plants. It produces (a) lush green growth that can poison livestock, and (b) becomes dry and brown in summer, which is also toxic.

Bracken poisoning

Bracken (Pteridium species) (Figure 1) is a genus of ancient, large coarse ferns. It is a very common and widespread plant that grows throughout the world (except where it is very cold or very dry)....

Figure 1. Freshly calved cow and environment

Q fever: a disease with underappreciated significance?

C. burnetii is a small, Gram-negative bacterium and obligate intra-cellular pathogen that causes Q fever. C. burnetii can infect humans, cattle, goats, sheep and many other mammals. C. burnetii...

Figure 1. Sensitive management of pastures can foster plants such as this bee orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Parasite control in regenerative livestock farming

A core principle of regenerative agriculture in both crop production and animal husbandry is the maintenance and improvement of soil structure and function, with emphasis on its biology and organic...

Why aren't students choosing farm animal practice and what can be done about it?

To the author it is clear: as a profession we must do better to support and encourage students to pursue careers in farm animal practice. With this relying on vets working in clinical practice just as...

Figure 3. Increasing contact during rearing improves relationships.

The importance of the human–animal relationship for commercial farms

The health and welfare of livestock is paramount on farm, and the need to reduce stress and fear is included in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The influence of human behaviour on animals should be...

Figure 5. An example of a change in farm management — case study 1.

Regenerative agriculture — the practices involved and its position within modern agricultural systems

There is no singular, approved definition of regenerative farming, as highlighted by a review of 28 different studies (Schreefel et al, 2020). Robert Rodale (1930–1990) first coined the term...

Figure 1. Red clover (Trifolium pratense), a perennial legume, that will last 3–5 years. It is higher in protein content and has greater nitrogen fixing capacity than white clover seen below in Figure 2.

Impact of phyto-oestrogens on reproductive health of sheep

Phyto-oestrogens are all non-steroidal compounds that can bind to oestrogen receptors. The compounds found in plants of agricultural and veterinary importance include isoflavones and coumestans. The...

Prioritising antibiotic selection in farm animal practice

As has been demonstrated by multiple veterinarians and veterinary practices across the UK, moving towards ever more responsible antibiotic prescribing in line with the AMEG guidelines is certainly...

Medicine storage

Areas of medicine storage, where veterinanians should be concerned, can be illustrated by a personal study that has taken place over 20 years (Carr personal observations) (Table 1)..